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Packers WR
Javon Walker
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When it comes to the draft, crystal balls are very hit-and-miss.
When the Patriots drafted QB Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, I told
everyone who would listen that he would be a quality starter in the NFL. I was
spectacularly right. Brady led the Patriots to a Super Bowl title last season.
When the Buccaneers drafted RB Warrick Dunn and WR Reidel Anthony in the first round of
the 1997 draft, I told everyone who would listen that this gave the team the offensive
firepower necessary to get to the Super Bowl. I was spectacularly wrong. Dunn has been
pretty good but not great, while Anthony has been a bust. Both are now ex-Buccaneers.
Given the hit-and-miss nature of the draft, rather than predict the draft’s
winners and losers, I give you my thoughts on Draft Day decisions that will be very
interesting to follow in the months and years to come.
The Eagles’ secondary: My initial reaction to Philadelphia’s
decision to take three defensive backs in the first two rounds was: What the heck are they
thinking? The Eagles already have a sensational secondary with CBs Troy Vincent and Bobby
Taylor and safeties Brian Dawkins and Blaine Bishop on board. Why not get star QB Donovan
McNabb some more help? I figured that this is a team that has a chance to win it all right
now, so why not make picks that can provide instant help instead of taking defensive backs
who will start down the road when free agency or age attacks the quality of the secondary.
The more I thought about it, though, I realized the Eagles’ draft was designed
precisely to help the team try to win it all right now. Until proven otherwise, the road
to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through St. Louis. Given the Rams’ ability to put
three high-quality wide receivers on the field at one time and split RB Marshall Faulk
wide at the same time, a team had better be able to put a ton of quality defensive backs
on the field. This draft sets the Eagles up to do just that.
The Packers’ wide receivers: Green Bay has revamped its WR corps.
There is certainly a lot of potential. The question is whether it is ready for prime time.
First-round pick Javon Walker was moving up the charts quickly as the draft approached,
but he will be only a rookie on a unit that has Robert Ferguson (talented but almost no
production last season), Terry Glenn (talented but almost no production last season) and
Antonio Freeman (who might not be back). If the WR corps comes together, Brett Favre will
be unstoppable.
The Panthers’ QB situation: The jury is still very much out on
Chris Weinke. The Panthers passed on QB Joey Harrington to take DE Julius Peppers, who has
a ton of upside but has been inconsistent to date. If Weinke develops and Peppers lives up
to his potential, the Panthers will look like geniuses. If Peppers continues to run hot
and cold, and Weinke proves why he was only a fourth-round draft choice, the Panthers may
regret passing up the opportunity to select a potential franchise quarterback. Personally,
I’d have taken Harrington, but new Panthers head coach John Fox is a defensive coach
who knows how to motivate players, so Peppers figures to have a great chance to be a star
in Carolina. This was a very intriguing decision that will take several years to determine
if it was the right way to go.
Cornering the market: Getting CB Phillip Buchanon at the No. 17 spot
was great value for the Raiders. I can’t wait to see him teamed with Charles Woodson.
This could be one of the great CB tandems for a long time.
The continuing improvement of the Chargers: The big contract that San
Diego gave WR Tim Dwight puzzled me, but the Chargers’ offseason seems to be back on
track with what appears to be their second consecutive great draft. CB Quentin Jammer was
good value, and he fills a huge need. Everyone figured the Chargers would go offensive
line in the first round, but they got a first-round talent in OG Toniu Fonoti in the
second round. Fonoti’s lack of pass-blocking experience would be a much bigger
concern on most other teams, but given that the Chargers will depend so heavily on the run
with budding superstar LaDainian Tomlinson, I can’t wait to see if Fonoti becomes a
dominant run blocker. I think he will.
Here come the Browns: If you want to jump on the Cleveland bandwagon,
the line starts behind me. Heading into the draft, I thought the Browns had everything
they needed to become a very serious contender, except for a franchise running back. Then
they drafted RB William Green in the first round, and although there are some questions
about him, he is a huge upgrade for Cleveland. I think he will play faster than his
stopwatch speed in the NFL and become the kind of large, hard-running, franchise back
Cleveland needs. If he plays to this level, it will be worth watching to see if this is
the move that provides the final piece to the Super Bowl puzzle in the next couple of
years.
A big day for Jerry Jones: Ever since Jimmy Johnson left, I have felt
that for the most part Jones has done a lousy job of acquiring talent for the Cowboys. I
think he finally got it right this year. Roy Williams was a terrific pick in Round One. In
the second round, Antonio Bryant and Andre Gurode were quality picks, and third-round pick
Derek Ross has nice upside. If it weren’t for Jones’ infatuation with having 19
quarterbacks of the future on the roster, this would really be a team to be reckoned with.
Why they haven’t added a veteran quarterback who can be a short-term starter escapes
me.
Odds & ends: Now that the Falcons have T.J. Duckett, will they be
able to get Warrick Dunn the ball enough to justify his big contract? … The interior
of Jacksonville’s defensive line could be wicked if John Henderson and Marcus Stroud,
the Jaguars’ first-round picks the last two years, pan out. … It’s going to
be a lot more fun watching Steve Spurrier try to work his offensive magic now that the
Redskins have first-round QB Patrick Ramsey to go with the journeymen signalcallers
already on the roster. … First-round OL Kendall Simmons seems like the textbook
Steelers offensive lineman. … Given the creativity the team displayed with Kordell
Stewart in his "slash" days, I can’t wait to see what Pittsburgh will cook
up with Antwaan Randle El. … Third-round sleepers: Falcons LB Will Overstreet,
Buccaneers WR Marquis Walker, Dolphins C Seth McKinney and Cardinals DE Dennis Johnson.
… Fourth-round sleepers: Bears DE Alex Brown, Colts LB David Thornton, Titans CB Mike
Echols, Steelers LB Larry Foote, Vikings OG Ed Ta’amu. … Fifth-round sleepers:
49ers QB Brandon Doman, Broncos WR Herb Haygood, Browns LB Andra Davis. … Sixth-round
sleepers: Falcons WR Kahlil Hill, Buccaneers DE John Stamper, 49ers TE Mark Anelli. …
Seventh-round sleepers: Browns OT Joaquin Gonzalez, Patriots RB Antwoine Womack, 49ers OG
Eric Heitmann, Jaguars PK Hayden Epstein, Buccaneers TE Tracey Wistrom. |
